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PayPalTo ensure games run well on Linux either via Native Linux builds or Windows games with Proton, part of the magic is in the Steam Linux Runtime. A new version of it, the Steam Linux Runtime 4.0 was recently put up with some pretty big changes.
What's the point of it? It ensures Steam and games run through Steam on Linux work properly across all the many different Linux distributions. Another secret Valve sauce for Linux. Well, not secret at all but you get my meaning I'm sure.
Steam Linux Runtime 4.0 brings with it a major bump to the version of Debian as the base of the packages to Debian 13.2. Some of the other highlights from the initial release notes:
- Some libraries like libFLAC and OpenSSL are new major versions with a new SONAME. These libraries are not ABI-compatible with their equivalents in sniper, and making use of them might also require code changes due to API compatibility breaks.
- "Classic" SDL 2 has been replaced by sdl2-compat, but porting games to use SDL 3 directly is recommended.
- Many larger and/or older libraries have been removed completely. Some might be added back in at a later date if we find that they are necessary. For example:
- AT-SPI
- FLTK
- GLUT
- GTK
- ICU
- libproxy
- libsoup
- ncurses
- Qt
- SDL 2 versions of SDL_image, etc. (SDL 3 versions are still available)
- Most libraries that were previously available for both x86_64 and i386 are now only available for x86_64. In general, we only have i386 libraries if they are expected to be needed for Proton or for the steam-runtime-tools diagnostic tools.
And a follow-up update:
Platform libraries
- Update packages from Debian 13.2 point release:
cups_2.4.10-3+deb13u2(Debian#1109471)libxml2_2.12.7+dfsg+really2.9.14-2.1+deb13u2(CVE-2025-9714)onetbb_2022.1.0-1+deb13u1(test-suite fixes)openssl_3.5.4-1~deb13u1systemd_257.9-1~deb13u1xorg_1:7.7+24+deb13u1(Debian#1094494)- Merge modified packages from Debian 13.2 point release:
base-filescurl(CVE-2025-9086, CVE-2025-10148, CVE-2025-11563)SDK
- Update packages from Debian 13.2 point release:
- Linux kernel headers 6.12.57
You as a gamer and Linux user don't need to do anything, it's all used automatically depending on what Valve set.
They've also confirmed the Steam Linux Runtime 5 is also under development, currently in the prototype stage.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
About the author - Liam Dawe
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly.
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Liam Dawe 18 hours ago
Doesn't seem to be one listed.
1 Likes
I wonder if this means I can drop 32bit compatibility completely in my Gentoo now.
Only Steam is holding me back.
Only Steam is holding me back.
0 Likes
GustyGhost 17 hours ago
Even though SteamOS has migrated over to Arch Linux, the runtime is still using Debian as its basis?
1 Likes
Liam Dawe 17 hours ago
I doubt they could entirely change the runtime base like that, with so much depending on it, without breaking a lot.
3 Likes
Hopefully this won't cause problems for 32-bit games or 16-bit programs via Wine eventually, I'm assuming the prior version of Steam Linux Runtime will continue to be available for compatibility?
1 Likes
TBH as someone thats developing a new Distro from an upstream Distro I am hoping the day comes 32 bit can be dropped but still maintain compatibility because my current repo size is 305 GB large haha.. if I could get rid of the 32 bit portion or a vast majority of it would be about half that size lol
0 Likes
In ideal world 32bit support should have been dropped like at least 10 years ago, but at the same time, if its needed for compatibility for legacy applications/games then, yeah, just don't break things that someone might still want to use.
wine wow64 has been pretty good lately, but iirc there are still some issues running 32bit things on 64bit environments and whats the state with old native 32bit games i wonder, can those be run in pure 64bit mode now?
Last edited by Xpander on 21 Nov 2025 at 5:34 am UTC
wine wow64 has been pretty good lately, but iirc there are still some issues running 32bit things on 64bit environments and whats the state with old native 32bit games i wonder, can those be run in pure 64bit mode now?
Last edited by Xpander on 21 Nov 2025 at 5:34 am UTC
0 Likes
Quoting: Liam DaweI doubt they could entirely change the runtime base like that, with so much depending on it, without breaking a lot.If they ship their runtime with necessary 32bit libraries - I don't see why not. You can have perfectly fine 64 bit system with 32bit support in kernel and 3rd party 32 bit libraries when needed only.
And most games do exactly that. They ship their 32bit modules.(not all 32bit libraries, mind you, but still!)
In fact its even better, as different OS will have different 32bit libaries. So it makes Steam libs universal for all games.
Last edited by dimko on 21 Nov 2025 at 8:16 am UTC
0 Likes
They removed a lot of libraries... I know, increase in speed, less memory overhaul, etc etc, but I expect many old games not working anymore...
imagine if the library support could be optional for "advanced users", I would like that.
imagine if the library support could be optional for "advanced users", I would like that.
1 Likes
hardpenguin 26 minutes ago
They removed a lot of libraries... I know, increase in speed, less memory overhaul, etc etc, but I expect many old games not working anymore...The thing is, you can still use the older versions of the runtime for these games. In fact, it is likely that Steam will default to an older version of the runtime for older native 32 bit titles.
0 Likes
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